RI avoids S. Korea in taekwondo pinweight

JAKARTA (JP): Two Indonesian taekwondo athletes are to move up a division in the 13th Asian Games to avoid a clash with the sport's powerhouse South Korea.

The secretary-general of the Indonesian Taekwondo Association, Ahmad Zarkasih Hamid, said on Friday that the decision had been taken as a result of fears that a clash with the South Koreans would cost Indonesia its chance of winning medals in the discipline.

"During an overseas stint in South Korea recently, the South Korean athletes stated their desire to defeat us at the Asiad," Ahmad said.

Women's light flyweight (below 47 kilograms) Juwana Wangsa is to compete in the flyweight division (47-51 kg), while her male counterpart Satrio Rahardani will have to increase his weight by at least four kilograms in order to qualify for the men's flyweight division (54-58 kg).

"Both athletes have been training for the two divisions, so they won't have any problems if they have to change classes at the Asiad," Zarkasih said.

Taekwondo is one of 11 sports in which Indonesia is hoping to take medals in the games, which take place in Bangkok from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20. Four male and two female athletes will represent the country in the Asiad taekwondo event.

Indonesia's taekwondo team won two silvers and a bronze in the previous games, held four years ago in Hiroshima, Japan. Indonesia brought home a total of three golds, 11 silvers and 12 bronzes from the games in Japan.

This time around, the Indonesian team of 132 athletes has set a target of six golds, 11 silvers and 13 bronze medals. (yan)